3-D Printing's Promise—and Limits

So Far It's Proving to Be Great for Prototypes and Small Production Runs, but Not So Much for Bigger Jobs

By

Peter S. Green

Updated June 1, 2014 4:49 p.m. ET

Manufacturers are finding that a revolutionary technology has its limits.

According to enthusiasts, 3-D printing was supposed to rewrite the rules of how things get built. Forget building new factories, or outsourcing production to China. The compact devices would launch a manufacturing renaissance centered in people's living rooms and garages.

It may yet do all that. But for now, here's the reality: The technology works very...